Chapter 84: Military Training Has Quietly Begun

After everyone had finished their meal, they began to tidy up. All tasks were carried out in perfect order—those assigned to wash dishes took care of the dishes; those responsible for cleaning pots scrubbed the pots; those in charge of sweeping swept the area. There was not the slightest sign of confusion.

Thanks to this organization, they quickly cleared everything away and were soon ready to resume their journey.

Chu Yun watched the scene with great satisfaction.

However, when he noticed that Chu Cuihua’s group was once again the last to finish, he sought her out. “Cuihua, how is it that your Grand Household group is trailing behind yet again? I really expected better from you—what a disappointment! Your capabilities are certainly not limited to this.”

Cuihua, stung by his words, responded loudly, “My lord, you’ll see—next time, we’ll be first!”

Chu Yun chuckled. “Very well, I look forward to it.”

Then he called over Chu Lefu and Chu Wencai.

“My lord!”

The two heads of the Grand Households came forward and bowed to Chu Yun.

He nodded slightly and addressed the three of them. “We have already traveled nearly forty li from Chu Family Town. There are still over sixty li to go before we reach Pingba Village.”

“My plan is for us to reach Pingba Village before nightfall and spend the night there.”

“During the clean-up just now, Cuihua’s group was once again the slowest. She’s quite dissatisfied and insists they’ll be first next time.”

“So, let’s make a little competition of it. Among your three Grand Household teams, let’s see which one can be the first to reach Pingba Village…”

Chu Wencai couldn’t help but interject, “My lord, will there be a reward for the first Grand Household team to arrive at Pingba Village?”

He hesitated a moment, then added apologetically, “Please don’t misunderstand, my lord. I simply wish to encourage everyone’s enthusiasm to the fullest.”

Chu Yun smiled. “No harm done. It’s a good suggestion. Very well, the first Grand Household team to reach Pingba Village will receive a reward—two knife coins per household, or one tael of grain per person.”

Arriving at Pingba Village before dark would ensure everyone’s safety, and covering more ground would mean less time spent on the road, thereby reducing meal expenses.

A small reward was hardly a significant cost.

Two knife coins or one tael of grain per person might not be much, but for many, it was a decent sum.

“Thank you, my lord! I’ll go and urge everyone to pick up the pace.”

Delighted, Chu Wencai responded and turned to leave.

“Wait!”

Chu Yun stopped him with a gesture.

“Forgive me, my lord—I was too eager,” Chu Wencai said, somewhat embarrassed.

Chu Yun waved it off. “It’s nothing.”

Then, looking at the three Grand Household heads, he continued, “Each of your teams consists of more than twenty households. I want every single member to arrive at Pingba Village.”

“The outcome will be determined by the last person in each team to arrive. Only then will your team be eligible for first place.”

“That means you are responsible for the safety of everyone in your team. You must also foster teamwork and help the elderly and weak keep up with the group.”

“Do you understand?”

The three responded in unison, “Yes, my lord! We understand!”

They then inquired if there were any further instructions. When told there were none, they went off to relay the message to their middle and small household leaders, informing them of the plan to reach Pingba Village before nightfall and the reward for the first team to arrive.

The news of a reward greatly motivated everyone. Each small household leader quickly passed the message to every family, urging them to speed up—the earl himself had promised a reward of two knife coins or one tael of grain per person for the first to arrive.

Immediately, the pace of the entire group quickened significantly.

In just half an hour—about one hour by modern reckoning—they covered seven kilometers.

“In half an hour, they’ve gone fourteen li! Incredible…” Bai Hao couldn’t help but gasp.

Having spent many years on military campaigns, he knew that a forced march typically covered about twenty-four li in an hour.

Earlier, from Chu Family Town to their lunch stop, they had covered nearly twenty kilometers in less than two hours—a rapid pace, to be sure. But that was because the first ten kilometers out of town had been along a wide official road, with carts rolling smoothly. Spirits were high at the start, and everyone was eager to make good time.

Now, however, they were traversing narrow mountain paths, and yet their speed had increased—fourteen li in half an hour, faster than a forced march. It was truly astonishing.

Bai Hao turned to Chu Yun, marveling aloud, “You’re managing these three hundred people with military discipline, but how on earth have you gotten them moving faster than an army on a forced march? After all, this group includes the elderly, women, and children! How could they possibly keep up such a pace? I don’t believe a paltry reward alone can account for this.”

His admiration for Chu Yun grew even deeper.

At the same time, he understood why the Prince of Qi had ordered him to escort Chu Yun westward and to try persuading him to enter the prince’s service.

For Chu Yun’s talents extended far beyond medicine—he was an exceptional man in many respects.

Bai Hao made a swift note of the situation with brush and ink on a piece of white hemp cloth, resolving to send a message by carrier pigeon to the Prince of Qi as soon as they reached Pingba Village.

As the journey continued, the group’s pace began to slow, but not by much.

For after covering more than forty li, Chu Yun increased the reward—from two knife coins per household to three, or three taels of grain for every two people.

By this point, the group was exhausted from pushing so hard, but when they heard that the reward had been raised, they gritted their teeth and pressed on.

At last, they reached Pingba Village before nightfall.

Chu Yun’s intention all along had been to impose military training on these people from the moment he began managing them with military discipline.

He wanted everyone to improve their physical condition and develop teamwork over the journey from Chu Family Town to his fief.

Moreover, he intended to select military talent from among them, so that upon arrival at his fief, he could train them into a formidable private army.

That, in truth, was the real reason Chu Yun was taking so many people with him from Chu Family Town.

After all, even if his fief was beset by chaos and rampant banditry, it was unlikely to be completely uninhabited, forcing him to bring so many people along.